Hamas stages show of strength in West Bank

The Islamist militant group Hamas staged its first show of strength in the
West Bank in more than five years on Thursday, with a rally that showcased
its newfound credibility among Palestinians and signalled a significant
landmark towards reconciliation with political rivals Fatah.

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Members of Hamas security forces prepare to destroy a missile, fired by an Israeli plane, in Gaza on Dec 13, 2012.Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

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Palestinian supporters of Hamas hold signs and pictures during a rally to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hamas militant group, in the West Bank city of NablusPhoto: AP

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Palestinian supporters of Hamas chant slogans during a rally to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hamas militant group, in the West Bank city of NablusPhoto: AP

The rally was hailed as an important step towards reconciliation with the rival Fatah faction. The two organisations have been estranged since Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza in 2007, during which more than 400 Fatah members were killed. Fatah, the secular grouping headed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) president, Mahmoud Abbas, responded with a crack-down in its West Bank stronghold that prevented Hamas from staging public events.

"Salute the Lions of Qassam," an announcer told Thursday's gathering, referring to the rockets fired into Israel from Gaza during last month's eight-day conflict, which left at least 170 Palestinians and six Israelis dead. Hamas has claimed the war as a moral victory.

Several hundred followers watched proceedings from an overlooking multi-storey car park, as pro-Hamas songs with lyrics such asEarthquake Israel!" blared out over a public address system.

The go-ahead for the rally was apparently given by Mr Abbas after last month's United Nation's vote that granted de facto recognition to a Palestinian state and prompted new attempts at reconciling the rival groupings.

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Yesterday's event followed last weekend's visit to Gaza by Hamas's leader-in-exile, Khaled Meshaal, who also called for reconciliation and shared a platform with Fatah members.

The talk of rapprochement has antagonised Israel. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, this week bitterly criticised Mr Abbas for failing to denounce comments by Mr Meshaal in which the Hamas leader vowed to reclaim all of historic Palestine and never to recognise Israel.

In Nablus, a city renowned as a hotbed of militancy during the Palestinian intifada of the early 2000s, many spoke warmly of the prospects for reconciliation.

The city's independent mayor, Ghassan Shaka'a, an executive member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, predicted that Hamas would be forced to recognise Israel if reconciliation happened. "Mr Meshaal said in Gaza that Hamas should be part of the PLO and that he is for negotiations," he told the Daily Telegraph. "The PLO represents the Palestine people and recognises Israel and if they [Hamas] become part of the PLO, they should accept that recognition."

But on the streets, Hamas' philosophy of armed struggle appeared hugely preferred over Mr Abbas' pragmatic approach that has seen militant groups disarmed in a policy of security coordination with Israel.

Yazid Khader, 45, a Hamas activist who had been arrested 10 times by Mr Abbas's PA forces, said reconciliation could only be achieved if such cooperation were abandoned. "The spirit of Yahya Ayesh [a renowned Hamas bomb-maker killed by Israel in 1996] is alive here in the West Bank," he said.

"Hamas is more popular here in Nablus than Fatah," said Abu Khaled, 43, a worker in a clothes shop called Oscar who once served in Fatah's militant Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. "The people want resistance because the [Jewish] settlers are attacking villages and burning mosques.

"Abu Amar [Yasser Arafat] tried to make peace with the Israelis through the Oslo peace accords and he got nothing, so he supported resistance. Abu Mazen [Mr Abbas] has not resisted and still he is being attacked by Israel."